Diphtheria: isolates of toxigenic corynebacteria

The table attached shows the number of isolates of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae and C. ulcerans in England and Wales for the years 1986 to 2014 by presentation for ‘classical’ diphtheria or ‘other’ which includes skin infections, milder respiratory infections and asymptomatic (no symptoms) cases.

The most characteristic feature of ‘classical’ respiratory diphtheria is a membranous pharyngitis (often referred to as a pseudo-membrane) with fever, enlarged anterior cervical lymph nodes and oedema of soft tissues giving a “bull neck” appearance.

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